DES MOINES, IOWA (September 2, 2024) — The Libertarian Party of Iowa (LPIA) has officially filed appeals on behalf of congressional candidates Charles Aldrich (Fourth District) and Nicholas Gluba (First District) for judicial review of the Iowa State Objections Panel's decision to remove them from the 2024 general election ballot. The appeals also include a request for a temporary injunction to prevent the Iowa Secretary of State's Office from certifying the general election ballots on September 3.
The decision by the State Objections Panel, dominated by Republican members, was met with significant opposition from the LPIA, who argue that the ruling was not only partisan but also unjustly diminishes the choices available to Iowa voters. The panel's decision was based on alleged technicalities related to the LPIA’s nominating conventions, which the party contends were substantially compliant with state law.
"The decision to remove our candidates from the ballot is a direct attack on voter choice and the democratic process," said Jules Cutler, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Iowa. "We are committed to fighting this decision in court to ensure that Iowans have the opportunity to vote for candidates who truly represent their values."
In addition to the appeals filed by Aldrich and Gluba, Marco Battaglia, the Libertarian candidate for Iowa's Third Congressional District, has retained his own attorney and will be filing a separate appeal to challenge the State Objections Panel's decision.
The temporary injunction sought by the LPIA is intended to halt the certification of the general election ballots, allowing time for the judicial review process to take place. The LPIA believes that the court will recognize the substantial compliance of the party’s actions and reverse the panel’s decision, allowing Aldrich and Gluba to appear on the ballot as intended.
The Libertarian Party of Iowa remains dedicated to providing Iowans with an alternative to the two-party system and will continue to advocate for fair and just electoral processes.
The Libertarian Party of Iowa is committed to America’s heritage of freedom: individual liberty and personal responsibility, a free-market economy of abundance and prosperity, a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade. Find out more at lpia.org.
